poultry poultry Flashcards
1
Q
examples of gamefowl
A
chicken, turkey, pheasant
2
Q
examples of waterfowl
A
ducks, geese
3
Q
when were chickens domesticated?
A
8000 years ago
4
Q
what are chickens decedents of
A
Red Jungle Fowl from South and South-East Asia
Can obtain fertile offspring by crossing domestic
chicken with red jungle fowl
5
Q
what are broilers?
A
- Birds genetically selected for meat production
- Selected for rapid growth of muscle
6
Q
what is the weight of a broiler at slaughter?
A
2.3kg
7
Q
stages of the production cycle
A
- Chicks (usually) arrive at rearing facility
- Have already undergone vaccinations & grading
- Usually intensively reared in mixed-sex flocks
- Ad-libitum access to feed and water
- Cereal based pellet
- Must have windows to allow sunlight in UK
- Thinning banned under RSPCA Assured
Scheme - Reach slaughter weight at ~42 days old
- Free-range birds are usually slower growing
birds ~56 days old minimum; mortality ~3.5% - Around 6.5 flocks per year
8
Q
X-treck
A
- Eggs arrive at ~d18 of incubation
- Temperature of shed warm (36°C)
- Chicks hatch on site
- Instant access to food and water
- Better growth?
